EFFECTIVENESS OF AN AUDIO-VISUAL RECORDING PROGRAM IN REDUCING SELECTIVE MUTISM: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY AMONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

ABSTRACT Background: Elective silence among primary school students presents a significant challenge in educational settings, impacting students' academic and social development. Traditional interventions have shown limited success in addressing this issue, necessitating innovative approaches incorporating modern technological solutions. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a program based on audio and video recording activities in reducing elective silence among primary school students in the Al-Baha region's education administration. Methods: The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a sample of 20 fifth-grade students (aged 10-11 years) divided equally into experimental (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. The intervention utilized the Elective Silence Scale and a specially developed program based on audio and video recording activities. Pre-test, post-test, and follow-up measurements were conducted to assess the program's effectiveness. Results: Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference (p<0.01 and p<0.001) between control and experimental groups in post-intervention measurements, favoring the experimental group. Significant improvements (p<0.01) in the experimental group's scores between pre-test and post-test measurements. No significant differences between pre-test and follow-up measurements in the experimental group, indicating maintenance of improvement. The findings demonstrate that multimedia-based interventions can effectively address elective silence in primary school settings. The sustained improvement in the experimental group suggests the long-term viability of using audio and video recording activities as therapeutic tools. Conclusion: The program based on audio and video recording activities proved effective in reducing elective silence among primary school students, highlighting the potential of incorporating multimedia methods in educational interventions for addressing selective mutism. Keywords: Audio and video recordings, selective mutism, Elementary school.